Shoe heel



March 20, 1951 1 D, KELLS 2,545,519

SHOE HEEL Filed March 27, 1950 mi? Mr [g2 l; .1 nl ,0

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BY @uw Patented Mar. 20, 1951 SHOE HEEL J ohn'D. Kells, Brooklyn, N. Y.

' Application Maren 27, 195o, serial No. 152,253 1 4 claims. (01436-38)This invention relates to new and usef improvements and structuralrefinements in shoe heels, and the principal object of the invention isto provide a resilient shoe heel which is capable of storing a portionof the energy resulting from its impact with the ground or floor, sothat the energy so stored may subsequently be expended when weight isbeing taken off the heel, thus permitting the pedestrian to walk in acushioned, easy and comfortable manner.

Some of the advantages reside in its simplicity of construction, in itsefficient operation, in its adaptability to economical manufacture andin the easy replaceability of its individual components when-worn.

With the above more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the ivention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is an underside plan view of the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 4-4 in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 5-5 in Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 6-6 in Figure 4.

Like characters of reference are employed to Referring now to theaccompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a shoe heelwhich is designated generally by the reference character I6 and issecured in the usual location to the underside of the sole I2 of a shoeI4.

The heel I6 embodies in its construction a main body portion I6,preferably formed from solid rubber, or the like, this main body portionbeing rigidly secured to the sole I2 by a plurality of fasteningelements or nails I8, substantially as shown.

The main body portion I6 is provided with a substantially rectangularrecess 20 to accommo- ,qate a complemental body portion 22 which is alsoformed from solid rubber, or the like, the

complemental portion 22 extending rearwardly from the recess 26 andbeing substantially thinf ner than the main body portion I6 so that, in

effect, it is spaced downwardly from the sole I2; as is best shown inFigures 3 and 6.

The complemental body portion 22 is provided in its upper surface with arecess 24 to accommodate what may be called a lower plate 26 which issecured in the recess 24 by a plurality of fastening elements 28, sothat the complemental body portion is reinforced against flexing whilean upper plate 30 is firmly seated in a recess 32 provided in the uppersurface of the main body portion I6, so that when the latter is securedto the sole I2, the upper plate 30 is securely retained in position.

The plates 26, 36 are provided with vertically spaced, channel-shapedseats 34, 36 respectively,-

for a coil spring 38 which extends transversely in the aforementionedrecess 28 and has laterally angulated end portions 4I), 42. These endportions are anchored or seated in depressed and struck out portions 44,46 respectively, provided on the respective plates 26, 30, theresiliency of the spring 38 being such as to urge the complemental bodyportion 22 to a position where the lower surface thereof is co-planarwith the lower surface of the main body portion I6. However, when therear portion of the heel is brought in contacty with the ground orfloor, the complemental body portion 22 is swung to the positionillustrated by the dotted lines 48. in Figure 6, this action placing thespring 38 under further tension and compressing the resilient shockabsorber pad 54 and the energy stored in the spring and pad during thismovement is subsequently available for returning the complemental bodyportion 22 to its initial or starting position.

The lower plate 26 is provided at the front end thereof with a pair oftransverselv spaced, upwardly extending lugs 56 and a solid rubber block52 is firmly secured between these lugs and is engageable with theunderside of the top plate 30 y so, as to afford a terminal stop for thecomplemental body portion 22 when the latter is coplanar with the mainbody portion I 6. The compressible shock absorber pad 54 of resilient orthe invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosureand accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemedunnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a shoe heel, the combination of a main body portion provided witha recess. a complemental body portion disposed in said recess andextending rearwardly therefrom, a lower plate secured to the uppersurface of the complementa] body portion and an upper plate adapted to`be secured to the underside of a shoe sole above said lower plate, and acoil spring mounted transversely between the upper and lower plates andaffording a fulcrum for the complemental: body portion, whereby thelatter may rock about a transverse horizontal axis, opposite ends ofsaid spring being anchored to the respective upper and lower plates forurging said complementa] body portion to a position wherein theunderside thereof is co-planar with the underside of said main bodyportion.

2. The device as defined in claim l together with a compressibleresilient shock absorber pad secured between the upper surface of saidcomplemental body portion and the underside of the stated shoe solerearwardly of said' ful'crum.

3. The device as dened in claim 1 together with a resilient terminalstop pad mounted on said lower plate forwardly of said fulcrum andabutting the upper plate when the undersurfaces of the main andcomplemental body portions are substantially cao-planar.

4. The device as dened in claim 1 together with channel-shaped seatsprovided n said upper JOHN D. KELLS.

No references cited.

